Device for collecting body liquids

ABSTRACT

A device for collecting body liquids comprising, a receptacle having a chamber to receive and collect the body liquids. The device has a stand having a back member, and legs extending from a lower portion of the back member. An upper portion of the stand is connected to an upper portion of the receptacle. The device has an elongated handle member having inner and outer ends, with the inner end of the handle member being connected to the upper portion of the stand.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to devices for collecting body liquids.

In the past, liquid drainage devices have been proposed to collect urinefrom a patient. Such drainage devices may comprise a catheter which ispassed through the urethra of the patient, a drainage tube connected toa proximal end of the cathether located outside the patient's body, anda collection bag connected to a downstream end of the drainage tube. Inuse, urine drains from the bladder through the catheter and drainagetube to the bag for collection therein. Although such devices haveoperated to drain urine from the patient, various devices were requiredto secure the drainage bag to the patient's bed, and such devices havedeterred the mobility of the patient.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A principal feature of the present invention is the provision of animproved device for collecting body liquids.

The device of the present invention comprises a receptacle having achamber to receive and collect the body liquids, and a stand having aback member, and leg means extending from a lower portion of the backmember. The upper portion of the stand is connected to an upper portionof the receptacle. The device has an elongated handle member havinginner and outer ends. The inner end of the handle member is connected toan upper portion of the stand.

A feature of the present invention is that the stand supports thereceptacle in an upright position on the floor adjacent the patient.

Thus, a feature of the present invention is that it is not necessary tosecure the receptacle to the bed of the patient.

Another feature of the invention is that the handle member may beutilized by the patient to carry the receptacle about while thereceptacle is located on the stand.

Accordingly, a feature of the present invention is that the devicefacilitates mobility of the patient.

Still another feature of the invention is that the handle member may beplaced below a mattress of a bed or a cart with the receptacle supportedin an upright position.

Yet another feature of the invention is that the handle member may beplaced below a cushion on a wheel chair to support the receptacle in anupright position while the patient moves about in the wheel chair.

Further features will become more fully apparent in the followingdescription of the embodiments of this invention and from the appendedclaims.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary front exploded view of a urine collection deviceof the present invention comprising a receptacle, a stand, and a handlemember;

FIG. 2 is an exploded side view of the device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken substantially as indicated along theline 3--3 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially as indicatedalong the line 4--4 of FIG. 6;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially as indicatedalong the line 5--5 of FIG. 6;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary plan view on an enlarged scale of a portion ofthe handle member of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary front plan view of the device with thereceptacle connected to the handle member;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially as indicatedalong the line 8--8 of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary front plan view illustrating the receptacle andhandle member as attached to the stand;

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially as indicatedalong the line 10--10 of FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary perspective view illustrating use of the handlemember to support the receptacle beneath the mattress of a patient;

FIG. 12 is a fragmentary front exploded view of another embodiment ofthe urine collection device of the present invention;

FIG. 13 is a side exploded view of the collection device of FIG. 12;

FIG. 14 is a sectional view taken substantially as indicated along theline 14--14 of FIG. 12;

FIG. 15 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially as indicatedalong the line 15--15 of FIG. 13;

FIG. 15a is a fragmentary sectional view of the device of FIG. 15 inwhich a leg of the stand is partially rotated from its position in FIG.15;

FIG. 16 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially as indicatedalong the line 16--16 of FIG. 13;

FIG. 17 is a fragmentary side elevational view illustrating theunlocking of a leg of the stand;

FIG. 18 is a fragmentary front plan view showing legs of the stand asfolded inwardly toward a central portion of the stand;

FIG. 19 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially as indicatedalong the line 19--19 of FIG. 18;

FIG. 20 is a fragmentary front plan view of the handle member asconnected to the receptacle;

FIG. 21 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially as indicatedalong the line 21--21 of FIG. 20;

FIG. 22 is a fragmentary front plan view showing the receptacle andhandle member as connected to the stand;

FIG. 23 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially as indicatedalong the line 23--23 of FIG. 22;

FIG. 24 is a fragmentary rear plan view illustrating the receptacle asconnected to the stand in an inverted position of the handle member;

FIG. 25 is a fragmentary perspective view illustrating the handle memberas placed beneath a mattress with the stand removed from the device; and

FIG. 26 is a fragmentary perspective view illustrating the handle memberas placed beneath a mattress with the stand secured to the device.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring now to FIGS. 1-11, there is shown a urine collection device 30having a collection bag or receptacle 32, a stand 34, and a handlemember 36. The receptacle 32 has a front wall 38 of flexible plasticmaterial, and a back wall 40 of flexible plastic material. As shown, thefront and back walls 38 and 40 are secured together around theirperiphery in order to define a chamber 42 intermediate the front walland back wall 38 and 40. The receptacle 32 may have a vent 44 of knownmaterial, such that the vent 44 communicates between the chamber 42 andthe atmosphere. The receptacle 32 has a connector 46 in the form of adrip chamber connected to the front wall 38, such that the connector 46communicates with the chamber 42 of the receptacle 32. As shown, theconnector 46 may have a vent 48 of known material in order to permitpassage of air from the atmosphere into the connector 46. The receptacle32 has a drainage tube 50 with the downstream end 52 of the drainagetube 50 being connected to an upper portion of the connector 46, suchthat the downstream end 52 of the drainage tube 50 communicates with thechamber 42 through the connector 46. The receptacle 32 has a tubularsection 54 connected to the front wall 38 and communicating with thechamber 42. The receptacle 32 has a pocket 56 on the front wall 38 toreceive an end of the tubular section 54 in a storage position of thetubular section 54. As shown, a clamp 58 of known type is positioned onthe tubular section 54 in order to close the tubular section 54. In use,the tubular section 54 is removed from the pocket 56, and the clamp 58is opened in order to permit drainage of urine through the tubularsection 54. After drainage has been completed, the tubular section 54 isagain positioned in the pocket 56 with the clamp 58 closed in order toposition the tubular section 54 in the storage position on thereceptacle 32. The receptacle 32 also has a sleeve 60 on an upperportion of the receptacle 32, with the sleeve 60 defining a tunnel 62for a purpose which will be described below.

The stand 34 has a back member 64, and leg means 66 projecting forwardlyfrom a lower portion 68 of the back member 64. The back member 64comprises a pair of spaced first upright rods 70 having apertures 72 inan upper end 74 of the first rods 70. The stand 34 has a pair of spacedsecond rods 76 projecting forwardly from a lower end 78 of the firstrods 70. Also, the stand 34 has a third rod 80 extending between outerends 82 of the second rods 76, with the leg means 66 comprising thesecond rods 76 and third rod 80. As shown, the stand 34 has a pair ofreinforcement members 84 extending between the first and second rods 70and 76, and the stand 34 may have a post 86 extending between upper endsof the reinforcement members 84.

The handle member 36 comprises a U-shaped rod 90 having an inner end 92and an outer end 94, with opposed ends 96 of the U-shaped rod 90 beingconnected to a transverse bar 98. In a preferred form, the handle member36 has a length substantially the length of the receptacle 32, and thelength of the handle member may be approximately 7 inches. As shown, thebar 98 has a pair of bosses 100 extending from opposed ends of the bar98. The handle member 36 has a retaining member 102 pivotally secured toa central portion 104 of the U-shaped rod 90 by a sleeve 106. Theretaining member 102 has an aperture 108 for a purpose which will bedescribed below.

The handle member 36 has a pair of spaced ears 110 and 111 extendingoutwardly from the inner end 92 of the U-shaped rod 90, with the ears110 and 111 having openings 112 extending therethrough. As shown in FIG.5, one of the ears 111 has a slot 113 extending through the one ear 111and being located adjacent the associated opening 112. With reference toFIGS. 1, 2 and 6-8, the handle member 36 also has an elongated rod 114,with the rod 114 having an outwardly directed pin 116 adjacent one end118 of the rod 114.

In use, the other end 120 of the rod 114 is passed through the opening112 of the one ear 111, and then the other end 120 of the rod 114 ispassed through the tunnel 62 of the receptacle 32, after which the otherend 120 of the rod 114 is passed through the opening 112 of the otherear 110. Next, the pin 116 of the rod 114 is passed through the slot 113in order to position the pin 116 intermediate the ears 110 and 111, withthe pin 116 being located adjacent the one ear 111 in order toreleasably lock the rod 114 in the ears 110 and 111, as shown in FIG. 7.With reference to FIG. 6, the rod 114 has an enlarged portion 122 whichis larger in diameter than the opening 112 in ear 110, such that theenlarged portion abuts against the ear 110 in order to retain the pin116 adjacent the ear 111. Of course, the opening 112 of ear 111 islarger in diameter than the enlarged portion 122 in order to permitpassage of the enlarged portion 122 through the ear 111. In this manner,the handle member 36 is releasably attached to the sleeve 60 of thereceptacle 32, with the rod 114 being pivotally received in the tunnel62. Next, a portion of the drainage tube 50 may be inserted into theaperture 108 of the retaining member 102 in order to retain the drainagetube 50 in place.

The upper ends 74 of the first rods 70 may then be flexed outwardly inorder to position the bosses 100 of the handle member 36 intermediatethe upper ends 74 of the first rods 70, after which the first rods 70are released in order to receive the bosses 100 in the apertures 72 ofthe first rods 70, as shown in FIG. 10. In this manner, the inner end 92of the handle member 36 and an upper portion of the receptacle 32 arereleasably connected to an upper portion of the stand 34. In thisconfiguration, the stand 34 may be positioned on the floor in order tosupport the receptacle 32 in an upright position at a location adjacentthe patient. Thus, the device 30 of the present invention eliminates theneed to connect the receptacle 32 to the patient's bed. In addition, thepatient may conveniently grasp the handle member 36 and carry the device30 with him as he moves about, thus increasing the mobility of thepatient. If desired, the upper ends 74 of the first rods 70 may beoutwardly flexed in order to remove the bosses 100 of the handle member36 from the apertures 72 of the stand 34, thus leaving the handle member36 pivotally secured to the receptacle 32. As shown in FIG. 11, themattress M of a bed or a cart may be lifted from the bed or cart toreceive the handle member 36 beneath the mattress M, after which themattress M is lowered in order to releasably secure the handle member 36in place beneath the mattress M. In this manner, the receptacle 32 issupported in an upright position by the handle member 36 beneath themattress M. Alternatively, the handle member 36 may be placed beneaththe cushion of a wheel chair in order to releasably secure thereceptacle 32 in an upright position on the wheel chair, thus permittingmobility of the patient in the wheel chair while the receptacle 32 issecured in place.

Another embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in FIGS.12-26, in which like reference numerals designate like parts. In thisembodiment, the device 30 has a receptacle 32, a stand 34, and a handlemember 36, with the length of the handle member 36 being substantiallythe length of the receptacle as previously described. In thisembodiment, the receptacle 32 is identical to the receptacle 32previously described in connection with FIGS. 1-11, except that thereceptacle 32 of FIGS. 12-26 has a flap 130 at an upper end of thereceptacle 32. As shown, the flap 130 has a plurality of spaced slots132 extending across the flap 130.

The stand 34 has a back member 64, and leg means 66 projecting forwardlyfrom a lower portion 68 of the back member 64. The back member 64comprises a pair of spaced arms 134, with the arms 134 having apertures72 adjacent upper ends 74 of the arms 134. Also, the back member 64 hasa back plate 136 extending between the arms 134. The back member 64 hasan abutment member 138 located adjacent the upper end 74 of one of thearms 134, with the abutment member 138 projecting outwardly from theassociated arm 134 at a location adjacent the aperture 72 in theassociated arm 134.

The stand 34 has a pair of legs 140 pivotally mounted on the lowerportions 68 of the arms 134. The arms 134 have a cut-out 142 adjacentthe lower portions 68 of the arms 134, and a pin 144 extending across aforward part of the cut-outs 142. Also, the legs 140 have a pair ofspaced flanges 146 defining a bore 148, with the bores 148 receiving thepins 144 to pivotally mount the legs 140 on the arms 134. Thus, the legs140 are movable between a first forward position, as shown in FIGS. 12and 13, to a second folded inner position, as shown in FIG. 18, with thelegs 140 generally aligned with the back member 64. As shown in FIG. 15,the arms 134 has a stop member 150 adjacent the cut-outs 142 whichstrike against inner ends of the leg flanges 146 at the first forwardposition of the legs 140 in order to prevent movement of the legs 140 inan outer direction past the first forward position at which the flanges146 strike the stop member 150.

With reference to FIGS. 13, and 16-18, the legs 140 have a flexiblelower flange 152 having a slot 154 extending vertically through theflanges 152. The arms 134 have a lower protuberance 156 which arereceived in the slots 154 in order to releasably lock the legs 140 intheir first forward position. The legs 140 may be unlocked by flexingthe flanges 152 downwardly past the protuberance 156, as shown in FIG.17, at which time the legs 140 may be pivoted to the second innerposition as previously described. The arms 134 also have a notch 158adjacent the protuberances 156 at the lower end of the arms 134. Withreference to FIG. 18, when the legs 140 are folded to the second innerposition, the flanges 152 are received in the notches 158 in order toreleasably lock the legs 140 at the second inner position. The flanges152 may be flexed downwardly past the protuberances 156 in order torelease the legs 140, and permit movement of the legs 140 to the firstforward position. Thus, the legs 140 are movable between the firstforward position and a second inner position, and may be releasablylocked at both the first forward position and second inner position.

With reference to FIGS. 12 and 13, the handle member 36 comprises aU-shaped rod 90 having an inner end 92 and an outer end 94 in a manneras previously described in connection with the device 30 of FIGS. 1-12.In this embodiment, a retaining member 102 is pivotally mounted on acentral portion 104 of the U-shaped rod 90 by a sleeve 106, with theretaining member 102 having an aperture 108 to receive a portion of thedrainage tube 50 on the receptacle 32, as previously described.

Opposed ends 96 of the U-shaped rod 90 are connected to spaced portionsof a first rod 160, with the first rod 160 having opposed first bosses162 extending outwardly from opposed ends of the rod 160. As shown, thefirst rod 160 has a plurality of hooks 164 extending outwardly from therod 160 for a purpose which will be described below. Also, the U-shapedrod 90 has a second rod 166 connected between the U-shaped rod 90intermediate the inner end 92 and outer end 94 of the U-shaped rod 90.The second rod 166 has a pair of second bosses 168 extending fromopposed ends of the second rod 166. The handle member 36 has aprotuberance 163 extending from the inner end 92 of the U-shaped rod 90at a location adjacent one of the bosses 162.

In use, the hooks 164 of the first rod 160 are received in the slots 132of the receptacle flap 130, as shown in FIG. 20, in order to releasablysecure the receptacle 32 onto the handle member 36. Next, the upper ends74 of the arms 134 may be flexed outwardly slightly in order to receivethe first bosses 162 intermediate the upper ends 74 of the arm 134,after which the upper ends 74 of the arms 134 may be released in orderto pivotally receive the bosses 162 in the apertures 72 of the stand 34,as shown in FIG. 22. As shown in FIG. 23, in this configuration, theprotuberance 163 strikes the abutment member 138 of the stand in orderto limit forward movement of the handle member 36 relative to the stand34 at an upright position of the handle member 36. At this time, thelegs 140 may be folded to the first forward position, as shown in FIGS.12 and 13. In this configuration, as shown in FIG. 22, the stand 34supports the receptacle 32 in an upright position with the legs 140 ofthe stand 34 being located on the floor adjacent the patient to supportthe stand 34 in an upright position. Also, in this configuration, thehandle member 36 is releasably attached to the receptacle 32, and thedrainage tube 50 may be received in the aperture 108 of the retainingmember 102 in order to retain the drainage tube 50 in place. Thus, thedevice 30 may be placed in an upright position on the floor, and thepatient may grasp the handle member 36 in order to carry the device 30about in order to increase the mobility of the patient.

If desired, with reference to FIG. 26, the legs 140 may be unlocked andmoved to their second inner position, and the drainage tube 50 may bereleased from the retaining member 102. In this configuration, thehandle member 36 may be placed beneath a mattress M of a bed or a cart,and the mattress M may be lowered over the handle member 36 in order toretain the receptacle 32 in an upright position by the mattress M or bya cushion on a wheel chair with the stand 34 being attached to thereceptacle 32 and handle member 36. Alternatively, with reference toFIG. 25, the stand 34 may be removed from the receptacle 32, and thehandle member 36 may be placed beneath a mattress M in order to supportthe receptacle 32 in an upright position by the mattress M or by thecushion of a wheel chair with the stand 34 removed from the device 30.Thus, the receptacle 32 may be supported by the side of a patientthrough use of the handle member 36 whether or not the stand 34 isattached to the receptacle 32.

In an alternative configuration, with reference to FIG. 24, the handlemember 36 may be inverted relative to the receptacle 32, and the secondbosses 168 may be positioned in the aperture 72 of the arms 134. In thisconfiguration, the receptacle 32 is supported by the stand 34 at ahigher position relative to the floor on which the stand 34 rests.Alternatively, the handle member 36 may be located above the receptacle32, and the second bosses 168 may be inserted into the aperture 72 ofthe arms 134 in order to support the receptacle 32 at a lower positionon the stand 34 relative to the floor.

Thus, in accordance with the present invention, the receptacle 32 may bereleasably attached to the handle member 36, and the handle member 36may be connected to the stand 34 in order to support the receptacle 32in an upright position on the floor while the legs 140 are located atthe first forward position. The handle member 36 may be placed beneath amattress M of a bed or a cart or the cushion of a wheel chair in orderto support the receptacle 32 at the side of the patient whether or notthe stand 34 is removed from the handle member 36. Also, the receptacle32 may be supported at varying heights on the stand 34 through use ofthe second bosses 168 in the apertures 72 of the arms 134, with thehandle member 36 being located in an upright or inverted position.

The foregoing detailed description is given for clearness ofunderstanding only, and no unnecessary limitations should be understoodtherefrom, as modifications will be obvious to those skilled in the art.

I claim:
 1. A device for collecting body liquids, comprising:areceptacle having a chamber to receive and collect body liquids; a standhaving a back member having upper and lower portions, and leg meansextending from the lower portion of said back member to support the backmember in an upright position; and means for connecting an upper portionof the back member to an upper portion of the receptacle to support thereceptacle in a upright position by the stand, wherein the connectingmeans releasably attaches the back member to the receptacle, with theconnecting means comprising a tunnel in an upper portion of thereceptacle, a rod extending through the tunnel, and means for attachingsaid rod to the back member, wherein the attaching means comprises apair of spaced apertures in the upper portion of the back member, a pairof spaced bosses removably received in said apertures, a pair of spacedears connected to said bosses, said ears having openings to removablyreceive said rod with the tunnel located intermediate said ears.
 2. Thedevice of claim 1 including a bar extending between said bosses.
 3. Thedevice of claim 1 wherein said rod has an outwardly directed pin, and inwhich one of said ears has a slot adjacent the opening in the one ear,said slot receiving the pin such that the pin may be passed through theslot to position the pin intermediate said ears at a location adjacentthe one ear.
 4. The device of claim 1 including an elongated handlemember connected to said bosses.
 5. The device of claim 4 wherein saidhandle member comprises a U-shaped rod having opposed ends connected tosaid bosses.
 6. The device of claim 5 wherein said receptacle includes adrainage tube having a downstream end communicating with said chamber,and in which a central portion of the U-shaped rod has a retainingmember having an aperture to releasably receive a portion of saiddrainage tube.
 7. The device of claim 6 wherein said retaining member ispivotally mounted on said U-shaped rod.
 8. The device of claim 1 whereinsaid back member comprises a pair of spaced upright first rods havingupper and lower ends.
 9. The device of claim 8 wherein the upright firstrods each have an aperture adjacent an upper end of the rods.
 10. Thedevice of claim 8 wherein the leg means comprises a pair of second rodshaving inner and outer ends extending forwardly from lower ends of thefirst rods.
 11. The device of claim 10 wherein the leg means furthercomprises a third rod extending between outer ends of the second rods.12. The device of claim 10 including a pair of reinforcement membersextending between the first and second rods.
 13. The device of claim 1wherein said receptacle has a pair of flexible sidewalls defining saidchamber.
 14. The device of claim 1 wherein the leg means extendsforwardly from the back member.
 15. A device for collecting bodyliquids, comprising:a receptacle having a chamber to receive and collectthe body liquids; a stand having a back member having upper and lowerportions, and leg means extending from the lower portion of the backmember to support the back member in an upright position; means forconnecting an upper portion of the back member to an upper portion ofthe receptacle to support the receptacle in an upright position by thestand; an elongated handle member having inner and outer ends; and meansfor pivotally and removably connecting the inner ends of the handlemember to the upper portion of the back member.
 16. The device of claim15 wherein the handle member has a length substantially the length ofsaid receptacle.
 17. The device of claim 15 wherein the handle membercomprises a U-shaped rod.
 18. A device for collecting body liquids,comprising:a receptacle having a chamber to receive and collect the bodyliquids; a stand having a back member having upper and lower portions,and leg means extending from the lower portion of the back member tosupport the back member in a upright position; means for connecting anupper portion of the back member to an upper portion of the receptacleto support the receptacle in an upright position by the stand; anelongated handle member having inner and outer ends; and means forpivotally connecting the inner ends of the handle member to the upperportion of the receptacle.